Energy saving device rotating half circle and turning back with help of gravity

ABSTRACT

An energy saving device rotating a half circle and turning back with the help of gravity is revealed. In the first half cycle of a circle movement, a transmission shaft of a motor rotor is controlled to rotate and further drive a first rotating shaft rotating in one direction by a first speed change gear mechanism. The transmission shaft synchronously drives the motor rotor to rotate a half circle, from a lowest position to a highest position on a circumference of the circle. In the other half cycle, the transmission shaft of the motor rotor stops rotating and the motor rotor returns from the highest position to the lowest position with the help of gravity. Thus the half circle rotation of the motor rotor is completed and the first rotating shaft is driven to rotate in one direction continuously so as to achieve energy saving effect.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an energy-saving device, especially toan energy-saving device that rotates a half circle and then turns backwith the help of gravity. In the first half cycle of rotation, the motorrotor rotates a half circle from a lowest position to a highest positionon a circumference of the circle by a rotating transmission shaft of themotor rotor. In the other half cycle, the transmission shaft of themotor rotor stops rotating and the motor rotor turns back to the lowestposition along the same pathway of the above half circle.

Natural sources on the earth including petroleum, coal, etc have beenconsumed dramatically after industrial resolution. With exhaustion ofresources, nuclear energy has been used. However, nuclear energy andwaste cause biological hazards and environmental impact. There is muchfear of devastation due to main nuclear disasters and radioactiveincidents occurred in recent years. Thus renewable energy such as wind,hydropower, tides, sunlight, etc is considered as an alternative fuel infuture. Yet the cost of the renewable energy is high and the developmentis in the beginning stages. Due to difficulties in development of newenergy, energy saving is getting more important. In other words, oncethe energy can be used efficiently and saved more, the power consumptionis reduced. For example, automobile companies worldwide are introducinghybrid electric vehicles for saving fuel consumption and loweringemission. In order to meet requirements of energy saving, there is aneed to provide an energy saving device providing better energy-savingeffect with lower cost and having more applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore it is a primary object of the present invention to provide anenergy saving device that rotates a half circle and turns back with thehelp of gravity in which a motor rotor rotates a half circle in a firsthalf cycle and then turns backs to the original position by the gravityin the other half cycle. Thus the movement in a circle is completed. Therequirement of energy saving is satisfied and the device has moreapplications.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an energysaving device that rotates a half circle and turns back with the help ofgravity. In practice, a plurality of energy saving devices is connectedin series so that a first rotating shaft for storage of energy of eachenergy saving device is connected to form one rotating shaft that isconnected to a second rotating shaft for output. Thus a combined energysaving device assembly is formed with improved energy saving effect andhaving the second rotating shaft with higher energy output or load.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present inventionto achieve the above and other objects can be best understood byreferring to the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an energy saving deviceaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right side perspective view of the embodiment in FIG. 1according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a left side perspective view of the embodiment in FIG. 1according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the embodiment in FIG. 1 according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a left side view of the embodiment in FIG. 1 according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a front side view of the embodiment in FIG. 1 according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is an explosive view of the embodiment in FIG. 1 according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 8A is a schematic drawing showing a half circle rotation (the firsthalf cycle) of the embodiment in FIG. 1 according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 8B is a schematic drawing showing an automatic turning back process(the other half cycle) of the embodiment in FIG. 1 with the help ofgravity according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a view of an assembly of a plurality of an energy savingdevices viewed at the right viewing angle according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment in FIG. 9 viewed at theleft viewing angle according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Refer to FIG. 1, an energy saving device rotating a half circle andturning back with the help of gravity 1 of the present inventionincludes a support base 10, a first rotating shaft 20 for storage ofenergy, a motor rotor 30, a support arm 40, a first speed change gearmechanism 50, a second speed change gear mechanism 60 and a secondrotating shaft 70 for output.

The support base 10 is used for supporting components related to theenergy saving device 1 of the present invention including the firstrotating shaft 20 for storage of energy, the motor rotor 30, the supportarm 40, the first speed change gear mechanism 50, the second speedchange gear mechanism 60 and the second rotating shaft 70 for output.Moreover, the energy saving device 1 of the present invention can befixed on certain positions to be used conveniently by the support base10 so that the present invention has more applications. There is nolimit on the structure of the support base 10. The height, width orsupport strength of the support base 10 can be modified according touser's needs, arrangement or relative positions of the components. Inthis embodiment, the support base 10 includes a bottom seat 11 on thebottom thereof, a triangle rack 12 disposed cross and over the bottomseat 11, a frame 13 arranged over the triangle rack 12, and a bufferpart 14 is arranged on top of the frame 13.

The first rotating shaft 20 for storage of energy is disposed on thesupport base 10. In this embodiment, the first rotating shaft 20 forstorage of energy is arranged at the triangle rack 12, near the top endthereof but not limited. The first rotating shaft 20 for storage ofenergy is a single-direction rotating shaft. For example, a ratchetmechanism is used to form the rotating shaft that rotates only in onedirection. The internal mechanism of the first rotating shaft 20 forstorage of energy can be designed by various types of mechanism toprovide single-rotating function.

The motor rotor 30 (such as a high efficiency motor) is disposed with amotor mechanism 31 therein for control of a transmission shaft 33exposed outside to rotate. Moreover, the motor rotor 30 uses a switchcontrol member 32 for control of the transmission shaft 33 of the motormechanism 31. Take the switch control member 32 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG.5 as an example. The switch control member 32 is disposed near a centerof the first rotating shaft 20 for storage of energy. An upper sensingswitch 321 and a lower sensing switch 322 are respectively arranged atan upper end and a lower end of the switch control member 32. When themotor rotor 30 is located at (or arriving) the lowest position (as shownin FIG. 8A), the motor rotor 30 is switched to a power-on state by thelower sensing switch 322 being triggered. When the motor rotor 30 islocated at (or arriving) the highest position (as shown in FIG. 8B), themotor rotor 30 is switched to a power-off state by the upper sensingswitch 321 being triggered. The mechanical design of the motor mechanism31 and the switch control member 32 are known to people skilled in theart. The switch control member 32 is used to control on/off and rotationmode of the motor mechanism 31 and the transmission shaft 33. In thisembodiment, the motor rotor 30 is controlled by the switch controlmember 32 to rotate a half circle in an alternate mode. That means inthe first one half cycle, the motor rotor 30 is switched to a “power-on(conductive)” state by the switch control member 32 (while the lowersensing switch 322 being triggered) for performing the half circlerotation. In the other half cycle, the motor rotor 30 is switched to a“power-off (non-conductive)” state by the switch control member 32(while the upper sensing switch 321 being triggered) for stoppingrotation.

The support arm 40 is connected to and mounted between the motor rotor30 and the first rotating shaft 20. Thus the motor rotor 30 rotates ahalf circle around the first rotating shaft 20 (center of the circle)while the support arm 40 defines a radius of the circle. In thisembodiment, the support arm 40 is for supporting the motor rotor 30 sothat the motor rotor 30 performs a half-turn rotation around the firstrotating shaft 20, between the lowest position and the highest positionon a circumference of the circle.

First speed change mechanism 50 is connected to and arranged between thetransmission shaft 33 of the motor rotor 30 and the first rotating shaft20 and is formed by a plurality of gears with different sizes andconnected to each other for providing speed change function. In thisembodiment, the first speed change mechanism 50 further includes astart-end transmission gear 51 and a finish-end transmission gear 52.The start-end transmission gear 51 is connected to and driven by thetransmission shaft 33 of the motor rotor 30 while the finish-endtransmission gear 52 is connected to the first rotating shaft 20 so asto drive the first rotating shaft 20 rotating in one directionsynchronously. While in use, the start-end transmission gear 51 isdriven by the transmission shaft 33 of the motor rotor 30 at a highspeed, the movement is transmitted to the finish-end transmission gear52 due to the speed change function of the first speed change mechanism50. The first rotating shaft 20 is driven by the finish-end transmissiongear 52 to have single-direction rotation at a lower speed.

Moreover, when the transmission shaft 33 of the motor rotor 30 isrotated at a high speed and the first rotating shaft 20 is rotated inthe single direction at a low speed, the motor rotor 30 is synchronouslyrotated a half-turn around the first rotating shaft 20, along thecircumference of the circle whose radius is defined by the support arm40. That means the motor rotor 30 is rotated around the first rotatingshaft 20 from the lowest position on the circumference of the circle (asshown in FIG. 8A) to the highest position (as shown in FIG. 8B) andagainst the buffer part 14 on the frame 13. Thus a half-turn rotation iscompleted. Once the motor rotor 30 is rotated to the highest position(as shown in FIG. 8B) after the half-turn rotation, the transmissionshaft 33 of the motor rotor 30 is switched to stop rotating under thecontrol of the switch control member 32 (triggering of the upper sensingswitch 321). Then motor rotor 30 is moved from the highest position andthen turned back to the original lowest position, along the previoushalf-turn pathway in the opposite direction (as shown in FIG. 8B). Atthis moment, during the turning back process, the motor rotor 30 is inan idle-running state in relative to the first rotating shaft 20,without affecting the single direction rotation of the first rotatingshaft 20 due to the single direction rotation mode of the first rotatingshaft 20 for storage of energy. Or when the motor rotor 30 is with acertain weight, the motor rotor 30 drives the first rotating shaft 20 torotate in the original single direction by the gears of the first speedchange mechanism 50 with the help of gravity during the turning backprocess. In this embodiment, the speed/gear ratio of the transmissionshaft 33 of the motor rotor 30 (or the start-end transmission gear 51)to the first rotating shaft 20 (or the finish-end transmission gear 52)is set about 12:1. For example, the speed of the first rotating shaft 20(or the finish-end transmission gear 52) is 125 revolutions per minute(125 revs/min) when the speed of the transmission shaft 33 of the motorrotor 30 (or the start-end transmission gear 51) is set as 1500revolutions per minute (1500 revs/min).

The second speed change mechanism 60 is connected to and arrangedbetween the first rotating shaft 20 and a second rotating shaft 70 foroutput and is having a plurality of gears with different sizes andconnected to each other for providing speed change function. When thefirst rotating shaft 20 is rotating at a certain speed such as 125 rpm,the second rotating shaft 70 is driven to rotate at a preset speed dueto the second speed change mechanism 60. Thus energy is output to drivea load to rotate. In this embodiment, the second rotating shaft 70 isarranged with a blade 71 as a load, as shown in the figure, but the loadis not limited to the blade.

Refer to FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, when the energy-saving device 1 of thepresent invention starts moving in a cycle, the cycle is divided into afirst half cycle and the rest half cycle.

-   <1> The first half cycle: While entering the first half cycle, the    motor rotor 30 is switched to the “power-on (conductive)” state    under the control of the switch control member 32. Thus the    transmission shaft 33 of the motor rotor 30 starts rotating. Now due    to the speed change function of the first speed change mechanism 50,    the motor rotor 30 drives the first rotating shaft 20 (the    finish-end transmission gear 52) to rotate in one direction at low    speed clockwise by a driving force of the transmission shaft 33, as    an arrow C indicated in FIG. 8A. By the gears of the first speed    change mechanism 50, the motor 30 also synchronously rotates around    the first rotating shaft 20 counterclockwise, moving from a lowest    position shown in FIG. 8A to a highest position shown in FIG. 8B, as    an arrow A in FIG. 8A indicated. Thus a half-circle rotation is    completed. At the moment, the motor rotor 30 is in contact with the    buffer part 14 on the frame 13 so as to reduce the impact force.    Then the other half cycle starts.-   <2> The other half cycle: While entering the other half cycle, as    shown in FIG. 8B, the motor rotor 30 is switched to the “power-off    (non-conductive)” state under the control of the switch control    member 32 so that the transmission shaft 33 of the motor rotor 30    stops rotating. Due to the speed change function of the first speed    change mechanism 50, the motor rotor 30 starts moving in the    opposite direction (clockwise), as an arrow B in FIG. 8B indicated.    Due to that the transmission shaft 33 of the motor rotor 30 already    stops rotating and with the help of gravity acted on the motor rotor    30, the motor rotor 30 drives the first rotating shaft 20 (the    finish-end transmission gear 52) to rotate in one direction    (clockwise) synchronously, as the arrow C indicated in FIG. 8B. By    weight of the motor rotor 30 and the gears of the first speed change    mechanism 50, the motor rotor 30 moves from the highest position in    FIG. 8B to the lowest position in FIG. 8A reversely. Then the device    starts the first half cycle of the next circle. When the motor rotor    30 starts moving in the opposite direction (clockwise) due to the    gravity, as the arrow B in FIG. 8B indicated, the transmission shaft    33 of the motor rotor 30 already stops rotating at this moment. Once    the weight of the motor rotor 30 itself is unable to drive the    drives the first rotating shaft 20 (the finish-end transmission gear    52) to rotate, the first rotating shaft 20 can be designed into a    ratchet-type single-direction rotating shaft. Thus the motor rotor    30 is running idle in relative to the first rotating shaft 20 and is    turning back to the lowest position, as shown in FIG. 8A. Then the    next cycle starts.

According to the above description, FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B, no matter inthe first half cycle (the half-circle running by external power supply)or the rest half cycle (turning back automatically), the first rotatingshaft 20 (the finish-end transmission gear 52) keeps rotating in onedirection, as the arrow C in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B indicated. By means ofspeed change function and kinetic energy of the second speed changemechanism 60, the second rotating shaft 70 keeps rotating in onedirection stably and continues outputting energy.

In other words, during the other half cycle of the energy saving device1 of the present invention (automatic turning back with the help ofgravity), the motor rotor 30 is switched to the“power-off/non-conductive” state. That means no more energy (power) isprovided to the motor rotor 30 during the other half cycle. However,when the motor rotor 30 is moved reversely and turning back to theoriginal position with the help of gravity, it can still drives thefirst rotating shaft 20 (the finish-end transmission gear 52) to rotatein one direction as the arrow C indicated in FIG. 8B (clockwise).Without energy provided to the motor rotor 30 in the rest half cycle,the energy saving device 1 of the present invention can still completethe turning back process with the help of gravity. Compared with otherdevices that perform full-circle rotation by external power supply, themotor rotor 30 of the present invention performs the half-circlerotation first and then turns back to the original position with thehelp of gravity under the power-off state. Thus the first rotating shaft20 continues rotating periodically and the energy-saving effect isachieved.

Refer to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, while in use, a plurality of energy savingdeices 1 of the present invention is assembled to form a combined energysaving device. The first rotating shaft 20 of each energy saving device1 is connected in series to form a rotating shaft that is connected to asecond rotating shaft 70 for output by a second speed change gearmechanism 60. Thus energy-saving effect is achieved and total load thesecond rotating shaft 70 output is increased.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details, and representative devices shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An energy saving device that rotates a halfcircle and turns back with the help of gravity comprising: a firstrotating shaft for storage of energy and rotating in one direction; amotor rotor disposed with a motor mechanism therein and having a switchcontrol member for control of a transmission shaft thereof to rotate ahalf circle periodically; a support arm that is connected between themotor rotor and the first rotating shaft so that the motor rotorperforms a periodic half-circle rotation around the first rotatingshaft; the first rotating shaft is a center of a circle and a radius ofthe circle is defined by the support arm; a first speed change mechanismhaving a plurality of gears with different sizes, connected to andarranged between the transmission shaft of the motor rotor and the firstrotating shaft; the first speed change mechanism having a start-endtransmission gear connected to the transmission shaft of the motorrotor, and a finish-end transmission gear connected to and rotatingsynchronously with the first rotating shaft; by speed change function ofthe first speed change mechanism, the finish-end transmission geardrives the first rotating shaft to rotate at a low speed in onedirection while the start-end transmission gear is driven by thetransmission shaft of the motor rotor at high speed; a second speedchange mechanism having a plurality of gears with different sizes; thesecond speed change mechanism being connected to and disposed betweenthe first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft for output so as tomake rotating first rotating shaft drive the second rotating shaft torotate continuously; and a support base that is used for supporting thefirst rotating shaft for storage of energy, the motor rotor, the supportarm, the first speed change (transmission) gear, the second speed change(transmission) gear and the second rotating shaft for output; wherein inthe first half cycle of the periodical half-circle rotation, the motorrotor is switched to a power-on state by the switch control member sothat the transmission shaft of the motor rotor starts rotating; with thehelp of the speed change function of the first speed change mechanism,the motor rotor drives the first rotating shaft to rotate in onedirection at low speed by a driving force of the transmission shaft andthe motor rotor is synchronously rotated a half circle, from a lowestposition on a circumference of the circle to a highest position on thecircumference of the circle; a half-circle rotation is completed andthen the other half cycle starts; wherein in the other half cycle, themotor rotor is switched to a power-off state by the switch controlmember so that the transmission shaft of the motor rotor stops rotating;by the speed change function of the first speed change mechanism, themotor rotor moves from the highest position on the circumference alongthe half circle of the first half cycle back to the lowest position onthe circumference with the help of the gravity; then the first halfcycle of the next circle starts.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1,wherein the motor rotor drives the first rotating shaft to rotate in onedirection with the help of gravity when the motor rotor moves from thehighest position on the circumference along the half circle of the firsthalf cycle back to the lowest position of the circumference.
 3. Thedevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the motor rotor is running idle inrelative to the first rotating shaft when the motor rotor moves from thehighest position on the circumference along the half circle of the firsthalf cycle back to the lowest position of the circumference.
 4. Thedevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein a speed ratio of the rotatingshaft of the motor rotor to the first rotating shaft is 12:1.
 5. Thedevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support base includes a bottomseat disposed on bottom thereof, a triangle rack arranged cross and overthe bottom seat, and a frame set over the triangle rack.
 6. The deviceas claimed in claim 1, wherein a buffer part is disposed on the supportbase so that the motor rotor is against the buffer part while rotatingto the highest position.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe switch control member is arranged near a center of the firstrotating shaft for storage of energy; an upper sensing switch and alower sensing switch are respectively disposed at an upper end and alower end of the switch control member; the lower sensing switch istriggered by the motor rotor and switched to the power-on state when themotor rotor turns back to the lowest position; the upper sensing switchis triggered by the motor rotor and switched to the power-off state whenthe motor rotor is rotated to the highest position.